Umbrella support



Feb. 4, 1964 T. R. WHITE 3,120,332

UMBRELLA SUPPORT Filed Sept. 5, 1962 1 N VENTOR mazaez z biz 11E ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,120,332 UMBRELLA SUPIGRT Theodore R. White, 151 Randolph Place NW., Washington, D.C. Filed Sept. 5, 1%2, fier. No. 221,506 1 Claim. (Cl. 224-) This invention relates to an umbrella support, and has as its primary object the provision of means whereby a conventional umbrella may be attached to the body of the user in such manner as to leave both hands free for other uses.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a support which may be made in the form of an aluminum harness fitted over the shoulders, and stamped from a single plate, such harness being adapted to be shipped in flat condition, and contoured to the shoulders or" the individual user upon purchase thereof from a retailer.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a support which is securely held in position by strap means having quick detachable fasteners, whereby the same may be positioned for use, or removed with a minimum of difi'lculty, time, and discomfort.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character provided with a rear plate which engages the back of the user, and which is provided with a plurality of relatively stiff spring clips, by means of which an ordinary umbrella shaft may be secured to the plate, the shafts obviously being interchangeable, and providing a means whereby any conventional umbrella may be employed with the support.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plate supporting the end of the umbrella handle, and means for varying the relative height of said plate to the body of the user to accommodate different length umbrella shafts, as well as different height individuals.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character having means whereby the angle of inclination of the umbrella may be varied, so that the same may be employed whether or not the user thereof is wearing a hat having a projecting brim.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and ship.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the umbrella support of the instant invention shown in position on the body of a user, with an open umbrella disclosed in conjunction therewith.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the harness of the instant invention shown in a position of use, the body of the user and the umbrella being indicated in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the device of the instant invention shown disassociated from a user and from an associated umbrella.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View of the device as disclosed in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View showing spring clip means for attaching the shaft of an umbrella thereto, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along 3,12%,332 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 the line 66 of FIG. 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the support of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a rear plate 11 which is adapted, when in use, to engage the back B of the wearer or user W. The plate 11 is tapered from its top 12 to the bottom 13, and is provided with cut-out lightening openings 14 on opposite sides of a central panel 15. A shelf or projection 16 is struck rearwardly from the lower portion of the plate, and serves as a support for the handle H of an umbrella shaft S of a conventional umbrella U, which is secured to the central back plate 15 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

If desired, the plate 16 may be made as a separate part, and slidably mounted as by means of screws and vertical slots in the rear plate to permit adjustment thereof.

Extending from the upper portion of rear plate 12 are a pair of elongated oppositely disposed shoulder strap members 17, which are curved to extend over the shoulders of the user and terminate in a cross piece 18 across the lower portion of the chest C of the wearer. A central reinforcing strap 19 is also provided between the shoulder straps 17 and above the strap 18.

Apertured ears 29 extend from opposite sides of the lower portion of the rear plate, and have secured thereto flexible straps 21 provided with adjusting buckles 22 to accommodate various sizes of chest measurements. Each of the straps 21 is provided at its end with a snap fas tener 23 which is adapted to engage a corresponding snap fastener element 24 on opposite sides of the lower portion of strap 17 and transverse strap 18. These fasteners may take any desired quick detachable form, but preferably are comprised of a male stud secured to the front portion of the device and a spring female opening on the strap ends, such fasteners being of conventional design.

Raised reinforcing ribs 25 extend about the perimeter of the rear plate 15 and longitudinally of the shoulder members, while additional transverse reinforcing ribs 26 and 27 extend transversely along the members 19 and 18 respectively.

Referring back now to rear plate 15, the same is provided with a lower spring steel clip member 30, which comprises a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate plate members having offset flattened portions 31 which are secured in any desired manner as by rivets 32 to the rear plate. Snap fastener 30 is so dimensioned as to receive the handle H of a standard umbrella.

A second double fastener 35 includes a pair of oppositely disposed spring clip legs 36 having opposite indentations 37 and 38 and flared ends 39, with right angularly disposed flattened portions 40 which are secured as by means of rivets 41 or the like to rear plate 11. When the tunbrella shaft S is in the innermost of these indentations 37 the same extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the plate 15 so that it extends upwardly directly behind the head of the user. When the shaft is engaged in the indentations 35 it extends rearwardly at a slight angle, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 4 so that it clears the rear of the hat brim of the wearer.

In manufacturing the device the entire aluminum assembly including the rear plate 15, shoulder strap 17 and front straps 26 and 27 may be stamped or punched in a single operation from a standard sheet of relatively light, thin aluminum, the reinforcing ribs, and the shelf 16 being integrally formed during the stamping operation. Straps 21 may then be secured to the ears 18 and the clips 3!) a and 35 suitably secured as by means of riveting to the plate 15. At this time the device may be packaged and shipped flat to the retailer, relatively large numbers of the article thus being enabled to be shipped in the same package. At the retailer, the user thereof can bend the shoulder straps 17 to a desired curvature and height, enabling the positioning of the rear plate 15 at a desired position at the small of the back, and the chest straps adjusted to accommodate any desired chest size.

A conventional umbrella may then be attached to the spring clips 30 and 35, suitably adjusted as to height, such adjustment being normally effected by simply sliding the shaft S and the handle H upwardly or downwardly relative to their associated clips, the resilient strength of the clips being normally sufiicient to hold the umbrella in its desired position at a desired height.

It will thus be seen that there is herein provided an individualized umbrella support which may be inexpensively manufactured and shipped in flat condition thus effecting a material saving in shipping costs, which may be individually adjusted to the height and girth of the user, and to which may be attached any standard umbrella, leaving the hands H of the user free to support or carry other objects as shown in FIG. 1.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided an improved umbrella support which is personalized to the individual, and which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

An umbrella support comprised of a frame formed of a single metal stamping including a rear plate, shoulder straps extending from the top of said rear plate over the shoulders and downwardly over the chest of the user, and transverse metal chest strips integral with and connecting the ends of said shoulder straps, flexible straps each secured at one end to an opposite side of said rear plate, quick detachable couplings for the ends of said flexible straps on said chest straps, releasable spring clip means on said back plate for engaging the shaft of an umbrella to be supported, said spring clip means comprising a lower single clip adapted to be engaged by the handle of the umbrella and an upper double clip having two spring portions adapted selectively to be engaged by the shaft of the umbrella in a selected one of two positions of anguiar inclination relative to the head of the user, said metal stamping being formed of flexible sheet aluminum whereby said support may be shipped fiat and said shoulder straps individually bent to fit the user, said back plate, shoulder straps and chest straps being stamped with raised reinforcing ribs, and a shelf beneath the lower spring clip struck from said stamping and adapted to support the underside of an umbrella handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,085 Ridout Nov. 17, 1908 988,485 Mitchell Apr. 4, 1911 1,198,423 De Lude et al Sept. 19, 1916 1,347,540 Godard July 27, 1920 1,643,661 Kendall Sept. 27, 1927 1,704,407 Rice Mar. 5, 1929 1,827,524 Hilburger Oct. 13, 1931 2,361,414 Ramsey Oct. 31, 1944 2,943,775 Mack July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,509 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1895 

